Direct gravity recovery gold pan



March 3, 1953 F. s. STRENG 2,630,226

DIRECT GRAVITY RECOVERY GOLD PAN Filed Jan. 10, 1951 17: h /4 yl y g i 1 IN VEN TOR.

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ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 3, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DIRECT GRAVITY RECOVERY GOLD PAN Frank S. Streng, Black Hawk, 0010.

Application January 10, 1951, Serial No. 205,316

1 Claim. (Cl. 209--447) This invention relates to a miners pan, and more particularly to a pan for use in recovering precious materials, such as gold.

The object of the invention is to provide a pan which is adapted to be used by miners for separating gold from wet sand and the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide a gold miners pan which can be used for either testing for gold or separating gold from wet sand, the pan enabling the gold to be readily and quickly washed and separated from the sand.

A further object of the invention is to provide a gold prospecting pan which is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a gold miner's pan constructed according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional View taken on the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of the pan, showing a cap to be used when testing for gold;

Figure 4 is a detail plan view of the curved bafile member;

Figure 5 is an end elevational view of the bafile member illustrated in Figure 4.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral l0 designates a pan which may be fabricated of any suitable material, such as metal, and the pan l0 includes a bottom wall II which may be convex in shape. Extending upwardly from the outer edge of the bottom wall l I is an annular inclined side wall I2, and the pan I0 is adapted to receive wet sand containing gold or other precious meal.

Depending from the bottom wall I I adjacent the outer edge thereof is a funnel l4, Figure 2, the funnel 14 having its upper end communicating with a suitable opening in the bottom wall I l. Thus, gold will be able to pass from the pan I0 downwardly through the funnel M. The funnel M has its intermediate portion crimped inwardly so as to define an upper chamber 15 and a lower chamber [6.

Arranged in surrounding relation with respect to the funnel l4 and formed integrally with the bottom wall H or secured thereto is an annular skirt H. The skirt I1 is threaded exteriorly for a purpose to be later described.

A cup I8 is provided for at times receiving gold from the pan Ill. The cup l8 includes a bottom section l9 and an annular side section 20. The inner surface of the side section 20 is threaded adjacent its upper end so as to engage the annular threaded skirt H. Thus, the cup 18 can be readily connected to the skirt I! or detached therefrom. A suitable gasket H is interposed between the upper end of the cup 8 and the bottom of the wall I i, so as to effect a fluid-tight seal between these members.

Arranged contiguous to the funnel [4 in the vicinity of the top thereof are three countersunk, threaded holes 22, Figure 3. A curved bafiie member 23 is adapted to be detachably connected to the bottom wall I I, Figure l. The bafile member 23 has its opposite ends beveled or inclined, as at 24, Figure 5, and the baffie member 23 is provided with a pair of countersunk holes 25. Suitable securin elements, such as screws 26, are adapted to be inserted or projected through the holes 25 and into the openings 22 for maintaining the bafile member 23 detachably connected to the bottom wall II.

The pan of the present invention can be used for testing for gold by detaching th cup I8 and attaching a cap 21 thereto. The cap 21 includes a bottom 28, and an annular side 29 which is adapted to be arranged in threaded engagement with the threaded skirt l1. Extending upwardly from the bottom 28 and secured thereto or formed integrally therewith is a finger or body member 30. The finger 30 is adapted to project upwardly through the funnel 14 so as to prevent the fluid or other material from passing downwardly through the funnel l4.

From the foregoing it is apparent that a pan has been provided which is especially suitable for testing for and recovering gold. By means of the pan of the present invention, the gold can be recovered Without the necessity of using mercury. When the cup [8 is connected to the skirt [1, the gold will be collected therein in a concentrated form. The cup 18 can be detached from the skirt I! after the gold has been col= lected therein and emptied into a suitable receptacle. By attaching the cap 21 to the skirt I! in lieu of the cup l8, the pan can b used for testing or panning purposes. The baflle member 23 serves to prevent the gold from working beyond or passing beyond the funnel l4, and the baffie member 23 also prevents the light weight material from entering the funnel I 4 from the wrong direction.

With the finger 30 projecting upwardly through the funnel I4, the pan can be used for prospecting or testing gravel. The holes 25 in the baffle member 23 are countersunk or tapered, and also the hole 22 in the bottom of the pan are countersunk. Thus, when the bafile member 23 is not being used, the screws 26 can be inserted in the holes or openings 22 so as to lie flush with the upper surface of the bottom wall H, whereby foreign matter will be prevented from entering 3 the holes. Both ends of the bafl'le member 23 are beveled, as at 24, whereby the battle member 23 can be used interchangeably on opposite sides of the funnel [4, the beveled ends 24 insuring a tight fit between the rim or side Wall l2 and the baflle member 23.

When the pan is being used, the material to be worked such as sand, is placed in the pan together with a proper amount of water, and then the pan [0 is shaken or manipulated, whereby the gold moves ahead of the lighter material and along the outer periphery of the bottom wall I I. The gold eventually works its way toward and into the funnel l4, the convex shap of the bottom wall I I also helping to prevent the lighter material from working into the funnel H. The gold then passes through the funnel 44, whereby it is collected in the cup l8. The cup I8 and bafiie member 23 can be removed from the pan and the cap 21 can be attached when testing for gold. By means of the pan of the present invention the use of mercury is not required, and by first using the cap 21, the raw gravel will be reduced to a concentrated state, and then by removing the cap 21 and substituting the cup l8 and baflle member 23, the gold can be separated from the concentrated gravel or material. Although the bottom wall H is shown to be convex, it is to be understood that the bottom wall may be flat.

Iclaim:

In a miners pan, a convex bottom wall, an annular inclined side wall projecting upwardly from the outer edge of said bottom wall, a funnel provided with a converging portion depending from the bottom of said bottom wall adjacent its periphery, an exteriorly threaded skirt depending from said bottom wall and surrounding said funnel, a cap having an interior threaded portion engaging said skirt, and a finger projecting upwardly from said cap into the converging portion of the funnel for closing said funnel and a gasket interposed between said cup and bottom wall.

FRANK s. STRENG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 37,758 Kendall Feb. 24, 1863 524,586 Fitch Aug. 14, 1894 585,989 Sletcher July 6, 1897 646,382 Collins Mar. 27, 1900 694,255 Dana Feb. 25, 1902 1,194,091 Stenquist Aug. 8, 1916 1,948,797 Nicolai Feb. 27, 193-1 

